Portable water-inflatable barrier

Abstract

A portable, water-filled module suitable for use as a barrier or inclusion in a barrier is internally divided into cells and emulates a section of a sandbag dike or wall without requiring sand or intensive labor to install. Automatic valves can seal openings between the filled cells, so that a punctured cell will not cause cells below and behind to deflate. Cells can project below the base into a stabilizing trench. Some embodiments can be initially filled with air, positioned, and then filled with water while the air escapes through a pressure valve. Side structures of the module can enable interlocking with adjacent modules. In embodiments, rigid steps span the module to provide structural support and enable traversing of the module. The steps can be attachable to the module. The light, flexible walls of the module can include nanofiber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A water inflatable module suitable for use as a barrier or incorporation into a barrier, the module comprising:
 flexible walls configured to contain water within an interior of the module, said module having a front, a rear, a length parallel to the front, a width perpendicular to the front, and a substantially uniform cross-section along its length, the cross section being wider at a base of the module than at a top of the module; 
 a plurality of substantially horizontal and substantially vertical partition walls dividing said interior into a plurality of adjacent, water-tight cells shaped as rectangular parallelepipeds, front and rear partition walls of each cell being substantially parallel to the front of the shell, said cells being arranged in a plurality of vertically stacked layers that are offset from each other such that none of the front and rear partition walls aligns with a front or rear partition wall in a vertically adjacent layer; 
 a water inlet; and 
 a plurality of passages between the cells configured to allow filling of all of the cells with water from the water inlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The module of  claim 1 , further comprising a structure reinforcing element that is external to the flexible walls. 
     
     
       3. The module of  claim 1 , further comprising rigid steps spanning the width of the flexible walls in substantial conformance with a step-wise cross-sectional shape of the flexible walls, the steps being configured to enable an individual to traverse the flexible walls. 
     
     
       4. The module of  claim 3 , further comprising a first coupling mechanism attached to the steps and a second coupling mechanism attached to the flexible walls, the coupling mechanisms being configured for attachment of the steps to the flexible walls. 
     
     
       5. The module of  claim 4 , wherein the coupling mechanisms are configured to enable the steps to provide vertical support to the flexible walls. 
     
     
       6. The module of  claim 1 , further comprising an automatic valve cooperative with a vertical passage between adjacent cells and configured to automatically seal the vertical passage when the cell below the vertical passage is filled with water. 
     
     
       7. The module of  claim 1 , further comprising an automatic valve cooperative with a horizontal passage between adjacent cells and configured to automatically seal the horizontal passage when the cell located to the rear of the horizontal opening is filled with water. 
     
     
       8. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the module includes an interlocking side structure configured to interlock with a second module having a compatible side structure. 
     
     
       9. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the module is inflatable with air. 
     
     
       10. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the module is flat. 
     
     
       11. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the module includes at least one row of cells extending below other rows in the base, the extended rows being configured for placement in a trench prepared at a site where the module is to be installed. 
     
     
       12. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible walls are reinforced at least at the front of the module as compared to the partition walls. 
     
     
       13. The module of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible walls at the front of the module are reinforced due to an increased thickness of material relative to the partition walls. 
     
     
       14. The module of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible walls at the front of the module are reinforced due to inclusion of a material not included in the partition walls. 
     
     
       15. The module of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible walls at the front of the module are reinforced due to inclusion of nanofiber in the flexible walls. 
     
     
       16. The module of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible walls at the front of the module are reinforced due to double-walled construction. 
     
     
       17. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible walls include a coating of a protective material that tends to seal punctures. 
     
     
       18. The module of  claim 17 , wherein the protective material is tyvec or liquid rubber. 
     
     
       19. The module of  claim 1 , further comprising an underlying sheet that resists puncture of the flexible walls from beneath, and which seals to the module and to the ground beneath the module so as to inhibit penetration of water beneath the module. 
     
     
       20. The module of  claim 19 , wherein the underlying sheet is a cushioning layer. 
     
     
       21. The module of  claim 19 , wherein the underlying sheet is filled with dry sand or foam. 
     
     
       22. The module of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of said modules aligned with adjacent sides so as to collectively form a water barrier, dam, or dyke.